Review of Twisted Hate: a charmingly mesmeric romantic tale

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Total chapters: 58 + epilogue

Writer: Ana Huang

Update status: Ongoing

Synopsis: Jules Ambrose has been the only woman that Dr. Josh Chen could not manage to conquer, a fact that pissed him off to no end. Meanwhile, she shared similar sentiments of hatred towards him. To get her out of his system, in a fit of rage, he proposed an "enemies with benefits" arrangement whereby they could have unapologetic sex with no strings attached. However, nothing could prepare them for the feelings they'd develop for each other down the road.

Author Introduction | Ana Huang

Ana Huang is a bestselling writer renowned for her "Twisted" series (which includes the novel under review, "Twisted Hate"). Huang has been featured in a plethora of major outlets - such as Cosmopolitan, Glamour UK, and NPR - and has over 18 books listed as of this date.

Theme: Hatred Twists

The theme this novel conveys is far from new in fiction. It's your run-of-the-mill hate-to-love trope, but with a "twist" (pun slightly intended). That said, the core of this novel's originality resides not so much in the theme itself but in the way it develops.

The concept of "enemies with benefits" (a neat inversion of "friends with benefits") places this novel on a whole different level with respect to many of its contemporaries. Surely, it's not the first time plot devices like these have been explored, albeit they're far from common.

Other tropes present in this novel include "interracial relationships" and "forced proximity."

Characters in Twisted Hate

The main characters in this hot tale are Josh Chen and Jules Ambrose. Let's learn a bit more about them:

Josh Chen

Josh is that man that every woman on Earth would crave (and he knows it), with a body that seems to have been sculpted by the gods of Olympus, as well as a highly successful and profitable career. He's also as cocky as he's smart. In addition, he's an ace when it comes to sex.

Despite all his virtues, Josh's past has been far from rosy, for he has experienced betrayal from friends, as well as his father's arrest. Beneath all the looks and glamour lies a man in need of genuine love and understanding.

Jules Ambrose

Jules is Josh's main nemesis (or at least she's introduced as such). Her personality can be characterized as wild, impetuous, and highly opinionated.

Initially, she is friends with Josh's sister, Ava, and is prone to get her in trouble. This always irked Josh.

Point of View in Twisted Hate

The story in "Twisted Hate" is told from either Jules' or Josh's viewpoint, and they both give their particular "take" on the events.

A Twisted Plot

The plot begins with Jules being stood up by a guy she interacted with on a dating app. As she's about to leave, Josh appears from behind, to her utter disgust.

After a tense back-and-forth in front of Josh's date, Jules stumbles, but Josh impedes her fall by holding her hips. However, he gets extremely close as he does this. This makes her extremely nervous and sweaty. After that brief moment, they resume their bickering. Jules would then recall the times she overheard Josh telling Ava (her friend and Josh's sister) that she was "bad news" and didn't need friends like her.

The novel then hands the proverbial microphone to Josh, who relates his relationship with Clara and the issues he had back home. He also elaborates on how much he despises Jules and how he wouldn't "fall for her trap."

The Proposal

At one point, after a very heated discussion, they engage in angry sex, which Josh describes as the best he ever had. He then proposes to Jules a "friends with benefits" arrangement (minus the "friends" part). She found this proposal agreeable, as that would allow them both to satisfy their sexual cravings without having to deal with the hurdles of a real relationship.

Nevertheless, what seemed like a shallow "no strings attached" affair would escalate into something much stronger.

The Most Twisted Chapters (In a Good Way!)

Chapters 18 and 19 are arguably the most intense and temperature-raising ones in the whole novel. These are the ones where we witness the first sex scene between the lead characters and its aftermath (namely, the arrangement).

This is not to say that the other chapters that preceded or followed those two we just mentioned were not compelling in their own right, but these are the kinds of chapters that add shock value to readers.

Writing Style: Impossible to Hate!

Huang's writing style in "Twisted Hate" is clever, witty, and modern. She doesn't think twice before inserting pop culture references and wordplay. There is not one fragment in the entire novel that looks even slightly out of place or oddly written. It appears that the novel either had top-notch editors or the writer is just that good!

Is Twisted Hate Worth the Love It Gets?

"Twisted Hate" has the markings of a bestseller. The pacing is delicious, and the build-up to the love scene could not have been more spot-on! The characters are also exceedingly well-concocted and developed, with their nuances and personality quirks.

We'd be hard-pressed to find anything to critique this novel for, save for the lack of truly heart-grabbing side characters. Ava was nice, if a bit underwritten, considering her not-so-trivial role in the story. Other than that, the novel gets a 10/10 from us!

Don't hesitate to give "Twisted Hate" a read!

FAQs

Q: How many books are there in the "Twisted" series?

A: The series comprises four books: "Twisted Love," "Twisted Games," "Twisted Hate" (the one we're currently reviewing), and "Twisted Lies."

Q: Where can I get "Twisted Hate"?

A: You can read "Twisted Hate" for free with Amazon Kindle. The audiobook is also free with an Audible trial.